| Main Entry: | ad-lib |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improvise speech |
Synonyms: |
extemporize, invent, make up, speak extemporaneously, speak impromptu, speak off the cuff |
Antonyms: |
plan, prepare, rehearse, write |
| Main Entry: | devise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | conceive, dream up |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, arrange, blueprint*, brainstorm*, cast, chart, cogitate, come up with, concoct, construct, contrive, cook up, craft, create, design, discover, dope out, fake it, forge, form, formulate, frame*, get off, hatch, head trip, imagine, improvise, intrigue, invent, machinate, make up, mastermind*, plan, play it by ear, plot, prepare, project, scheme, shape, spark, think up, throw together, trump up, vamp, whip up, work out |
Antonyms: |
borrow |
| Main Entry: | extemporize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improvise |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, dash out, devise, do offhand, improvisate, invent, knock off, make up, play by ear, toss off |
Antonyms: |
plan, prepare, read, rehearse |
| Main Entry: | improvise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make up |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, brainstorm, coin, concoct, contrive, dash off, devise, do off top of head, do offhand, dream up, extemporize, fake, fake it, improv, improvisate, invent, jam*, knock off, make do, slapdash, spark, speak off the cuff, throw together, wing it |
Antonyms: |
design, devise, plan, premeditate |
| Main Entry: | invent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | create, think up |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, author, bear, bring into being, coin, come up with, come upon, compose, conceive, contrive, cook up, design, devise, discover, dream up, envision, execute, fake, fashion, find, forge, form, formulate, frame, hatch, imagine, improve, improvise, inaugurate, initiate, jam*, knock off, make, make up, mint, off-the-cuff, originate, plan, produce, project, toss off, turn out, wing* |
| Notes: | The word discover goes back to Latin dis- and cooperire, meaning 'to remove the covering; completely uncover.' By 1553, it was used to mean 'seeing or gaining knowledge of something previously unknown' and 'finding out; bringing to light.' You discover ('uncover') something that is already there, something that has existed but is generally unknown - but you invent something that has never existed before. |
Antonyms: |
steal |
| Main Entry: | make up |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | create |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, blend, coin, combine, compose, compound, concoct, construct, contrive, cook up, devise, dream up, fabricate, fabulize, fake it, fashion, fictionalize, fix, formulate, frame, fuse, hatch, improv, improvise, invent, join, knock off, make, meld, merge, mingle, mix, originate, play by ear, prepare, pretend, put together, ready, storify, trump up, whip up, wing it, write |
Antonyms: |
be real, tell truth |
| Main Entry: | wing it |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | improvise |
Synonyms: |
ad-lib, concoct, devise, do off the top of your head, do offhand, fake it, improv, invent, make do, make up, play it by ear, speak off the cuff, throw together |